The World Beneath

February 29, 2016
London journalist Warman, who grew up as a “privileged white child” in Cape Town during South Africa’s anti-apartheid struggle, sets this affecting novel in that same city and era. It is 1976, and Joshua, a black child, lives in a backyard hut with his mother, a maid for an affluent white couple. Visiting from “Jo’burg,” Joshua’s older brother tells him that he and others are covertly rebelling against the oppressive, racist government. Joshua embarks on his own risky undertaking when he shelters an injured anti-apartheid activist on the lam from the police. After the fugitive is discovered and Joshua comes under suspicion, two freedom fighters take him to an insurgent training camp in Angola for safekeeping. Through the eyes of an innocent boy trying to fathom the injustice and brutality of apartheid, as well as his own potentially violent role in the struggle, Warman presents a gripping personal portrait of a horrific chapter in South Africa’s history. Avoiding didacticism, her novel lets the facts speak for themselves, making Joshua’s story all the more hard-hitting. Ages 12–up.

March 1, 2016

Gr 6-9-Set in 1970s South Africa, this tale is about Joshua, a young boy struggling to survive the racial legacy of apartheid. Joshua's mother works as a maid at the estate of a wealthy white family where they live. He works hard to go unnoticed, until he unintentionally stumbles across a black man trying to evade capture by police. Joshua decides to hide this man without truly understanding the dangers involved. Through this narrative, Joshua witnesses the unravelling of his society and dabbles on the edge of his own morals when pushed to respond to the oppression. The sequence of events often moves too quickly, and characters lack depth, detaching readers from potentially emotional plot points. Joshua's perspective introduces kids to South African history, but without guidance or a previous understanding of apartheid, much of the content's nuances may be missed. Still, the work serves to address a critical aspect of world history and can be a valuable addition to school libraries. VERDICT This book is recommended for use in the classroom as well as for libraries with larger collections and where historical fiction is popular.-Paige Rowse, Needham High School Library, MA

Copyright 2016 School Library Journal, LLC Used with permission.

February 15, 2016
Warman turns her journalistic talents to historical fiction in her debut novel about the struggle to end apartheid in South Africa and how it shapes a young boy's life. It's 1976. Joshua lives with his mother, who is the maid in a rich white family's house. He stays out of sight most days, especially when Mr. Malherbe and his violent temper come home. Warman carefully layers the power structures and relationships in the house to create a taut atmosphere. The tension builds when Joshua helps Tsumalo, a freedom fighter who is on the run from the South African police. An altercation with the police sends Joshua running for his life, and from that point on he becomes the readers' eyes into the anti-apartheid movement. Each chapter feels thoroughly researched, with details about Joshua's life at a training camp and his return to Cape Town. Joshua grapples with moral questions throughout the book: what does freedom look like? What will be his role in it? And will vengeance bring him peace? Though the didactic tone of the narrative at times makes the story feel distant, these emotional moments with Joshua put heart back into the book. A good complement to nonfiction about apartheid South Africa, a little-explored place and period in children's literature. (glossary, author's note, letter from Amnesty International) (Historical fiction. 11-16)

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April 15, 2016
Grades 8-11 In this novel, Warman, a South Africaborn journalist, draws upon personal experience with the apartheid era. In 1976, Joshua lives with his mother, who works as a maid in the house of the Malherbes, a wealthy white family. His awareness of the events that will change the shape of South Africa's history is scant, but it rapidly grows when he and his mother harbor Tsumalo, an agitator in the fight for change. Joshua bears witness to a frightful event, one that pits the powerful Mr. Malherbe against Tsumalo and sends Joshua away from the city to join the fight for his long-deserved freedom. The succinct and specific prose will transport readers to a pivotal moment in time. Readers unfamiliar with South African history may wish to supplement the text, for the spare portrayal of background events may not provide enough context for some readers. Through a child's eyes, Warman perfectly captures the discovery of white privilege and the intentional creation of two distinct worlds just as their dividers come crumbling down.(Reprinted with permission of Booklist, copyright 2016, American Library Association.)